A Port Germein School History Lesson

July 13, 1880: The original Baroota (Gorge Rd) site for the Port Germein School is formally dedicated and the school is expected be completed in 6 weeks

August 12, 1880: The vessel Sir William Foster goes aground 2 miles off Port Germein with the school building materials on board.

August 31, 1880: The Sir William Foster arrives with the materials for the new school.

November 15, 1880: The school opens.

May 4, 1883: A petition is sent to the local member Andrew Tennant to be presented to the Education Dept concerning overcrowding and conditions at the school

17 December 1884: Mr E Ward MP presents a memorandum to the minister of Justice & Education from residents of Port Germein. Built to accommodate 36 children it has 50 attending and illness has broken out as a result. The Minister, in reply states a school to accommodate 80 children is to be built and the existing school building would become a teacher’s residence.

30 June 1885: The new Port Germein school opens at the new site within the township. The school room is 36 feet long by 20 feet wide and 16 feet high, said to have excellent light and ventilation and able to accommodate 100 children comfortably.

Operating for 132 years the school closed in December 2013 due to dwindling student numbers. An integral part of Port Germein’s history, passionate locals sought to keep the school for the community and after successful negotiations with the Education Department bought the school in 2018. The schoolhouse building now houses the Op Shop, run by a dedicated band of volunteers. The site includes a well-supported Men’s Shed.